The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy of Limiting Beliefs

As entrepreneurs, it's easy to get caught up in the idea of adding potential to our businesses without addressing the real constraint that's holding us back. In my experience, the constraint is often our own character traits.

I am talking to many entrepreneurs, who are successful by the standard measure of society, but their constraints are so evident to me that I felt compelled to share my observations with you.

The first thing I notice is that they often make "I am" statements. These types of statements are incredibly powerful because they shape our beliefs about ourselves. Things I hear them say are, "I am a high anxiety person," or, "I'm an all or nothing type person", or "I am a workaholic", or "I can't meditate, my head is spinning all the time."

When I hear these statements, I can't help but think that these beliefs are holding them back from growing their businesses as well as their personality. The thing is, when we believe something to be true about ourselves, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If we believe that we are high anxiety people, then we will act in ways that perpetuate that belief, and we will limit our ability to handle stress and pressure in a healthy way. Similarly, if we believe that we are an "all or nothing" type person, we will act in ways that reflect that belief, and we will limit our ability to handle failure and setbacks in a healthy way.

But the question is, do you believe that belief serves you? Do you think that your belief that you are an "all or nothing" type person or that you have high anxiety is helping or hindering you in achieving your goals?

As we become more experienced entrepreneurs, freelancers, gardeners, mothers, fathers, presidents or whatever, our outpoints, or the things that are limiting us, become less clear. That's why it's so important to have mentors and people outside of ourselves who we trust to speak into our lives. They can hear us speak these limiting beliefs and help us see how they may be holding us back. They can also help us understand that these beliefs are not set in stone and that we have the power to change them if we want to.

So, my advice to you is to take a hard look at your own character traits and beliefs. Are they serving you or are they holding you back? Don't be afraid to question them and make changes as needed. It's not always easy to recognize the limiting beliefs that we hold, but once we do, we can start to take steps to change them. And remember, success in business isn't just about adding potential, it's also about addressing the constraint that's holding you back.

Fixing limiting beliefs makes more sense to me than opening up new potential for your character and/or business, because limiting beliefs act as a constraint on your ability to achieve success. These beliefs shape how you perceive yourself, your abilities, and your potential, and they can hold you back from taking risks, making decisions, and reaching your full potential.

On the other hand, adding new potential for your character, such as learning new skills or developing new habits, can only take you so far if you are still held back by limiting beliefs. These beliefs act as a filter through which you view the world and your opportunities, and they can prevent you from seeing and taking advantage of opportunities that are right in front of you.

By fixing limiting beliefs, you can change the way you see yourself and the world, and open yourself up to new possibilities. It's like changing the looking glass that you are using to perceive reality with. You can shift through infinite realities everyday if you learn how to get rid of mental and behavioural constructs that keep you stuck in the same old you. This allows you to take advantage of the new potential you've developed for your character and achieve greater success in all other areas of your life.

Limiting beliefs often are an adaptation to pain and trauma from our past experiences and can be deeply ingrained, so it can be hard to change them. However, once you recognize these limiting beliefs and understand how they are holding you back, you can start to work on reframing them and replacing them with more empowering beliefs. This process of changing limiting beliefs is often a long-term and ongoing process, but once the limiting beliefs are gone, it will open up new opportunities for you and your business

Before You Go...

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My mission

My mission is to empower people to discover their true selves by freeing them from the mental and social constraints that hold them back, and to assist them in becoming their best selves.

Products that I LOVE

• Readwise: I love reading and enjoy using a variety of devices, such as my Kindle, physical books, phone, and computer. Previously, I used Evernote to store my notes from books, but it was time-consuming to maintain and not very effective for reviewing the material. Readwise is a helpful tool that connects to my Kindle and automatically saves all of my highlights. Additionally, I can use a web clipper to save information from the internet. I receive regular emails with randomly selected highlights, which serve as helpful reminders of the key points from my reading. This helps me retain more knowledge and not quickly forget most of what I've read. Overall, Readwise has been a great resource for deepening my understanding of the material.

• Vitamin D3K2: There are many factors that can contribute to vitamin D deficiency, particularly in the winter. I personally experienced a deficiency that was so severe that it took months of taking 12,000 IU of vitamin D to reach the lower end of the recommended range. It is important to note that if you are taking vitamin D, you should also take vitamin K2 to ensure that your body can absorb the vitamin D. I am a strong advocate for supplements, as I have learned through extensive testing and research that most people do not get adequate nutrition from their daily diet alone. In my opinion, vitamin D is a crucial supplement that everyone should consider taking, regardless of their lifestyle. It is relatively inexpensive to test your vitamin D levels and the supplement itself is also affordable. In my experience, clients who felt sluggish and began taking 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily reported feeling better within two weeks. However, please keep in mind that this is not medical advice and it is always important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplement regimen.

Disclaimer: The links provided for the products mentioned in this list are referral or affiliate links, which means that I may earn a commission if you choose to purchase the product. Thank you for your support.

FREE e-book

The Anxiety Playbook is an article that provides a comprehensive overview of anxiety and its effects. It explains the different types of anxiety and outlines the physical, psychological, and social impacts that it can have. Strategies for reducing anxiety are provided, including relaxation techniques, mindfulness exercises, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Additionally, the article explains how to get help for anxiety and provides tips for managing it. Finally, the importance of self-care, creating a supportive network, and staying connected to one’s emotions is emphasized to help readers cope with anxiety. Through this article, readers will gain a better understanding of anxiety and how to effectively manage it.

Dive Deeper with a Coaching

On my journey through the dark night of the soul I had many great teachers and mentors on my side. I spent thousands of Euros (and still do) on coachings and every cent was worth it. I don't think I would have been able to turn my life around so quickly without the help of these amazing people. The value you are receiving from working on removing emotional blocks, limiting beliefs and toxic thinking, can't be measured in money.

Most people only need 6 sessions in 3 months to generate dramatic outcomes in their lives. It's not like I teach them new things or have a bullet proof process. Quite the opposite is true. I believe that structure and process can help, but in most cases you're limiting life and all of its wonderful ways to create miracles for you. I am working on an intuitive level and combine all of my experience and knowledge from freeing myself.

What my clients are saying about working with me

Clara, Startup Founder: "Through his own very real ordeal and great listening skills I felt understood and that he was able to level with me in a way that felt authentic and unlike other help I’d previously sought in this area. I was inspired to pursue my own happiness (not overnight) and today can say, nearly two years on, living in a different country with a life full of love and running my own company - doing something I love - I’m really glad we met."

Felix, Startup Founder: "Jan is an extraordinary human being and an outstanding coach. Through our coaching, he helps me tremendously with personal growth and always has practical guidance at his hand."

Zahid, Startup Founder: "Jan is an incredible listener. Through several conversations with him, I have gotten a huge amount of clarity about where I’m looking to go with my business, and how I can overcome personal and professional challenges."